98 Pontiac Grand Am: P0440 on 1998 Pontiac Grand Am

Yes, Hi, I have a 1998 Grand Am with the 3.1L well it is throwing a couple codes ones that i know have no bearing on it not starting. But it is throwing the P0440 it was running real rough before i parked it, i sat for about a week, went to go start it and it would not fire. I need to know if this could make it not fire or if a MAF sensor malfunction could be the cause of a Misfire on cylinder 1, or if Catalyst efficiency below threshold bank could be the problem can anybody help me?

The engine running poorly can contribute to catalytic converter failure. If the catalytic converter was totally plugged up and restricted so badly that the engine can not exhaust exhaust gases the engine may start initially and the stall an not start again. A bad MAF sensor will not inform the computer how much fuel the engine needs and make it run poorly or not start at all.An engine needs three basic things to start, mechanical integrity (the engine's components must be in synchronization with each other and the engine must be able to develop compression), the engine must get fuel injected into the cylinders (fuel must be injected into the engine ( there is a computer that takes inputs from many sensors on the engine, interprets these signals and decides when and how much fuel to inject into each cylinder) finally the engine needs spark to ignite the fuel injected into the engine, (the spark is also controlled by the vehicle's computer deciding when the spark arrive at the spark plug). If any engine sensor has failed (crank angle sensor, camshaft position sensor, intake manifold pressure senor/air flow meter, coolant temperature sensor) any of these will cause the engine to fail to start by causing a loss of spark or fuel delivery. All these components need electricity to function, a failed fuse, relay, open or shorted electrical circuit could cause the computer, fuel pump or ignition system not to function. Unfortunately there are too many things that could cause your engine not to start to be able to pin point anything to specifically look for. Check for fuel and spark first.